Two TDs raised issues of public and constitutional importance in their unsuccessful legal challenge to the attendance of “super junior” ministers at Government meetings, and should be awarded half of their legal costs incurred in the actions, the High Court has ruled. Accordingly, High Court president Judge David Barniville, ruling with Judge Siobhán Phelan and Judge Conleth Bradley, said the State should pay 50 per cent of the TDs’ legal costs incurred in their cases. In December, the court held that no provision of the Constitution is breached by the attendance and participation of the junior ministers at Cabinet meetings. Ministers of state attending Cabinet – or super junior ministers – are appointed by the Government on the nomination of the Taoiseach. By comparing the cases to other instances when a losing litigant was awarded costs, the judges decided the TDs should be awarded 50 per cent of their costs against the State.

Source: The Irish Times March 06, 2026 19:50 UTC